De Witt suspecting negotiations between England and France, had made a treaty with Spain that broke off the last threads that bound the Triple Alliance together. Charles seized the opportunity to induce his Cabinet to declare war on Holland.
Christopher had watched these proceedings with intense interest. He did not pretend to understand why Ashley headed the desire for war; it was unlike him to wish to ally England with France. Christopher decided that politics were very mysterious.
At home, Charles had introduced his Declaration of Indulgence, permitting religious freedom. It had passed the Houses, and was greeted with murmurous opposition. The Duke of York was publicly received into the Roman Catholic Church. London was uneasy. The sudden closing of the Exchequer caused a stir, and more unrest.
Now it was late summer, and Charles was coming to Bevan Court on a visit. Lady Frances was acting hostess, and Christopher had been sent on in advance to have all in readiness.
An exclamation from him made Lady Fanny start, and open her eyes.
“The De Witts have been murdered!”
Lady Frances sat up.
“Chris!”
Christopher referred to the letter.
“Roderick writes as though ’twere a natural happening! Oddsblood, the man has the heart of a fish! … ‘Yesterday the news was brought to us thatt Jan and Cornelius De Witt have been done to Death by the Mob at the Hague. Soe Perish all His Highness’ Enemies!’ … Zounds!” Christopher crumpled the parchment in his hand. “Murder! Foul murder! I wonder. …”
“What do you wonder? Not. …”
“I wonder what part the Prince played in this dastardly deed.”
“Oh, no, Chris! No, no!”
“Roderick says no more than that ‘so perish all His Highness his enemies.’ Great Heavens!”
Lady Frances took the letter from him.
“May I see?”
“Oh, you may read it! That I should have such a brother!”
She spread open the sheets on her knee.
“… All over the Country the People call for a Stadtholder. At Rotterdam and Amsterdam they Growe unruly. The Prince His Oathe to De Witt absolved by Deathe, taketh the Government into His Owne Hands. Nowe he at last hath His Rightfull Place, after soe Many Yeares Patient Waiting. Nowe he hath Command over All Things, and no Pensionary to Oppose Him. He Hath Grate Plannes for the Repulsion of the Impudent Frenchman, the which, Guided by His Supreme Courage and Steadfast Purpose, He Goes shortly to put into Action. God Aide and Bless His Endeavours! He is a very Upright, Grate Prince, Wise beyond His Yeares, Knoweing not Despair. We of His Household, seeing Him Day by Day Striving always for His Country, Knowe howe Iron is His Will, howe Grate His Truthe. I do Counsel You, my Brother, to Leave thatt Libertine His Service, and to Join me Here, under the Prince His Glorious Standard. This do I Implore You to do for the Love I Bare You, which Love Hateth to see You Working for the Truthless Servant of a King who Lacks Honoure, Loyalty, and all those Things thatt a King should have. …”
“Bah!” snapped Christopher. “What more?”
“There’s little else. The rest concerns you alone.” She handed him the parchment which he thrust angrily into his pocket.
Lady Frances sat with her chin in her hand.
“So that is what Roderick says? Warnings, Chris, warnings!”
“Ay! You are all very anxious for me to quit my lord! And I will not! I know him as you do not! And I hold these warnings in contempt!”
She sighed.
“Don’t eat me, Chris. ’Tis very seldom that I speak to you on this subject after all!”
He took her hand quickly, kissing it.
“Forgive me! I had no right to speak to you like that! You are so good to me! so very good!”
“Oh, nonsense!” She patted his shoulder. “I wonder what they think of this in London? The news will have reached them by now. I would give much to know the inner workings of it.”
“Would you? I had rather not know. It must have been at the Prince’s instigation.”
“It may have been. De Witt was a block in his path. Therefore it was right that De Witt should go.”
“Right? How can you say that?”
Lady Frances’ eyes were narrowed.
“It seems to me that De Witt’s day has been ended some time since. The one man who might save Holland is Nassau. We have seen how he was hampered by De Witt’s cautious vetoes. Well, down with De Witt.”
“I cannot agree!”
“Quite right, dear boy. I hope you never will agree.”
He stared at her.
“You hope—but why?”
“Because it would mean that you had acquired a callous heart, even as all we who have—never mind! Let’s take the news to Jasper.”
They walked slowly back to the house.
The tidings reached my lord at Bevan House as he was in the act of penning an amorous note to Lady Crewe.
His servant came hurriedly into the room. He had been with Roxhythe since his boyhood, and he was permitted these licenses.
“My lord, the De Witts are dead! Murdered!”
John felt more than a casual interest in the news. He had several times seen the Grand Pensionary.
Roxhythe looked up.
“What of it?”
“But, my lord—!”
Roxhythe went back to his writing.
“You disturb me.”
He went later to Whitehall and found it seething with the tale. He was very bored.
The visit to Bevan Court was in every way successful. The King was fêted and feasted most extravagantly. Mademoiselle de Kéroualle, now Duchess of Portsmouth, and mistress-in-chief, came in his train, and was pleased to be very fascinating; the Duke of Monmouth, in high spirits, could talk of nothing but the prospect of his journey to Holland next year at the head of the English troops.
Christopher lived the few days in a positive whirl of excitement. He was very busy, for Roxhythe paid no attention to any
